A long-running legal battle between action camera giant GoPro and its main rival Insta360 has finally reached a conclusion at the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). While both companies are currently busy framing the news as a total win, a closer look at the ruling suggests that Insta360 has come out on top where it matters most – the ability to keep selling cameras to American consumers.

The dispute centered on two very different types of intellectual property. GoPro accused Insta360 of stealing both the "look" of its cameras and the "brains" inside them. However, the ITC final ruling delivered a split verdict that heavily favored Insta360's technical independence.

Core of the technical victory

GoPro had originally asserted five different utility patents against Insta360. These weren't just about the shape of the plastic – they covered the high-tech features that make modern action cameras work, such as digital stabilization, horizon leveling and the way the software handles wide-angle distortion.

In a major blow to GoPro, the ITC cleared Insta360 on every single one of these technical counts. The ruling confirmed that Insta360's stabilization and software features were either using entirely different technology or that GoPro's patents were invalid to begin with. This is a massive win for the industry because it confirms that Insta360's "HyperFlow" and "FlowState" tech – which many reviewers currently rank as the best in the business – was developed independently.

Design patent loophole

GoPro did manage to secure one specific win. The ITC upheld a claim that Insta360's original designs infringed on GoPro's design patent for the iconic Hero camera shape. This led to a formal exclusion order that technically prevents the importation of infringing products into the U.S.

But there's a catch that GoPro's press release didn't emphasize. The ITC also ruled that Insta360's redesigned products – the ones currently sitting on store shelves and in warehouses – do not infringe on that design. Because Insta360 has already moved to these updated designs, the import ban essentially applies to old versions that aren't the focus of their current business anyway.

What this means for the average person

For the person looking to buy a new camera for their next ski trip or bike ride, very little is going to change. Insta360 confirmed that its entire current lineup will remain available for sale across the U.S. without any restrictions.

GoPro's founder, Nicholas Woodman, argued that the ruling protects the "visual identity" of his brand. From his perspective, it's a win because it stops competitors from making cameras that look exactly like a GoPro. On the other side, Insta360 founder Liu "JK" Jingkang says the facts spoke for themselves, and that the ruling proves the industry should be shaped by better products rather than legal tactics.

In the end, while GoPro gets to walk away with a legal "win" on paper regarding the shape of its cameras, Insta360 has walked away with the market. By successfully defending its stabilization and software technology, the challenger has ensured it can keep pushing the boundaries of what these small – often weighing less than 200 grams – cameras can do. For now, the real winner seems to be the consumer, who will continue to see these two companies fight it out through innovation rather than just in a courtroom.